Croissants require time and mastery. That is to say, they are not the easiest thing in the world. Most croissants available in Athens are frozen, factory made ones.
However, there are exceptions, that show this French dessert the respect it deserves. Below you’ll find the addresses you need to enjoy the best croissants.
Overoll
Walking down Praxitelous street from Syntagma square, you might see a line of people. Getting closer, the buttery smell of croissants will explain why there are so many people outside Overoll. It’s Athens’ first croissanterie, the creation of three friends (Giannis Kikiras, Alkis Zervas and Spiros Pappas) who shared their love for croissants. They start baking early in the morning to fill Overoll’s pink window that empties very fast.
Their croissants are nicely crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and smell of butter. You can choose from croissants with chocolate cream filling, Nutella, almond paste or delicious pistachio cream. They use the same dough to make savoury versions like the different spanakopita (spinach pie) that is roll-shaped, or the sausage roll, that comes with a piece of sausage pinned to it.
27 Praxitelous street, Athens, tel. 0030 2114198151
Queen Bee
One of the most popular hang outs for brunch in Kolonaki. Normally it’s full of people having an espresso or a cappuccino together with a Double Bake Choco (a croissant that’s been baked twice) or a filling sandwich.
They make their croissants with French flours and butter – from Normandy – and the recipe is by baker Kamel Saci. It’s buttery, crispy and layered.
45 Patriarchou Ioakim street, Athens, tel. 0030 2107209933
Brio
It’s located on an uphill street of the Faros area of Neo Psichiko. And it’s a project by French chef Jean-Charles Metayer and his baker brother Sebastien. These two gentlemen have introduced the French, buttery dough called brioche to us. They don’t make the typical croissant; they make a different version which they call briossant and it’s a mixture of brioche and croissant that’s truly unique. It’s buttery and very tasty and it’s certain you can’t have just one. Their brioche buns are extremely tasty as well, so don’t leave without getting some of those too.
9 Solomou street, N. Psichiko, tel. 0030 2106728128
Kora
A new type of bakery that opened at the end of 2020. It’s in the Kolonaki neighbourhood, on Anagnostopoulou street, and it’s the creation of two young girls, Ianthi Mihalaki and Maria Alafouzou.
Their croissant dough is their base for sweet and savoury creations, and it’s made with Normandy butter, and is left to mature for 71 hours. Their classic croissant is tasty, but their pain au chocolat and their rectangular danish with the caramelised apple and the crème patisserie are even better.
44 Anagnostopoulou street, Kolonaki, tel. 0030210 3627855
Portatif
The first time I visited it was the summer of 2015. It hadn’t been open for long. I had been impressed by the smell and I’ll never forget the image of Tasos Litras, the owner and pâtissier, rolling out the buttery dough right there on the small countertop, cutting it in triangles and rolling it to make delectable croissants. Since then, Portatif has its own workshop, on Kallidromiou street, in neighbouring ExarcheiPa, but their croissant still remains as tasty.
21 Sina street, Kolonaki, tel. 0030 2103621866
81 Mavromichali & Kallidromiou street, Exarcheia, tel. 0030 2103645264
Tromero Paidi
This particular bakery will make you go all the way to Ilisia. Their breads, made with sourdough, are among the best in Athens. They also make croissants, with butter – French – and a small amount of sourdough. It’s different, as it has a slightly sour flavour, but delicious and fluffy. They run out early in the morning, so if you visit Tromero Paidi, you must try it.
30 Papadiamantopoulou street, Ilisia, tel. 0030 2107777537
Dimitris Economides
Dimitris Economides’ patisserie doesn’t look like an ordinary patisserie. The high aesthetics are apparent immediately. Add to that the carefully selected ingredients. For the croissants they use French flour and butter. And when they’re baking them, the whole neighbourhood is filled with their aroma. Try the plain, butter croissant, but also the chocolate one that’s truly amazing.
340 Kifisias Avenue, Neo Psichiko, tel. 0030 2106755000
